Life was challenging for Sopheary’s family. Her mother suffered from a terrible chronic illness that put an incredible financial strain on the family. To ease financial burdens, the young Cambodian girl went to live with her aunt, Davi. 

Davi was a wonderful caretaker, treating Sopheary as her own. She even made sure to pay Sopheary’s school fees so she could begin her education at age 6. 

Though her life was good with her aunt, Sopheary missed her parents, commenting that it had been so long since she had seen them that she no longer remembered what they looked like. 

Her parents finally visited a few years later. Shortly thereafter, the 9-year-old asked to return to live with them, and her wish came true. 

Unfortunately, living with her parents is not what she’d hoped. Her parents often fought, and her mother’s illness continued to strain the family’s finances. When she turned 17, her parents pressured their daughter to get a job.

Finding work without experience or an education can be a challenge in the region. Like many girls, Sopheary’s only opportunity was to work in a bar, but her job was not what she’d hoped for. 

Many of these “bars” are simply fronts for sexual exploitation, something Sopheary didn’t learn until her boss began to molest her on the job. The older staff ignored her pleas for help, turning a blind eye to her maltreatment.

Without another option, Sopheary endured the abuse to help her family. She worked long hours into the night with little opportunity for sleep, all while continuing to go to school.

Many children under similar circumstances understandably choose to drop out of school, but Sopheary persisted. 

“I never gave up hope while I was employed there,” Sopheary said. “I was holding out hope that I could get out of there because I was still studying.”

That opportunity came in the form of a Destiny Rescue caseworker who offered her a chance to join our program. 

Sopheary bravely took a chance at the opportunity, and little by little, her life began to change. 

“I felt so happy when I decided to stop working in that place,” Sopheary said.

Since leaving the bar, the driven student can now focus on her dreams for her life. “I want to be a teacher,” she said.

Sopheary closed her interview by thanking the donors who make it possible for girls like her to leave the abusive jobs behind. She also pleaded for continued support: “In Cambodia, there are many girls who need support,” she said. “Please also help them because they are in a very difficult situation.”

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